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They can't process the information themselves so they rely on Fox News to interpret it for them and of course they are then misinformed. Too bad because I thought the President made a very good point. When we succeed, we succeed together. That's not saying that a person hasn't worked his/her backside off. It saying that we are all in this together. We rise and fall together. And that's the way it should be.

I think the Fox viewers believe it, but there are many of them that are disgustingly evil, and will spin, and lie to make the Fox viewers go out and spout the spin and lies. Mitt the Twit gave a speech that made the same point as Obama, but used different semantics. the evil doers in the right wing don't care they just will twist and spin his words.

When I heard the whole quote I understood it to mean that no business could be successful in this world without the supporting infrastructure provided by State and Federal Government as well as other companies.

Not to mention of course a nation of people with policies that promote entrepreneurial enterprise.

"No man is an island"

Could any business in this world function today without the efforts of those who invented modern communication? - I think not.

Wrong - a president should be honest and not try to keep US citizens in La-la land. If we'd listen to Jimmy Carter's message of conservation, we'd be in a lot better shape in this world as a people and from a business point. No instead we went along with Reagan's speech of entitlement and greed because the USA is better than any country. Geez.

Roads would never have been built without wheels or cars being built first, rails without wheels, locomotives and engines. Water was already there for ships, so Governments didn't start that either. Like it or not Capitalist started all businesses so Government could suck taxes from the peopleto build what Capitalist could have done much cheaper. AND BETTER.

"If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business. you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen. The Internet didn’t get invented on its own. Government research created the Internet so that all the companies could make money off the Internet.

The point is, is that when we succeed, we succeed because of our individual initiative, but also because we do things together. There are some things, just like fighting fires, we don’t do on our own. I mean, imagine if everybody had their own fire service. That would be a hard way to organize fighting fires."

You can whine all you want, Obama made the comments and he knew exactly what he was implying. If his excuses to correct his gaffe were correct, then everyone would be successful, because everyone has had that help during their life. The ones who succeed do it their selves and help many others on their way to the top. Without the successful, no one would be able to improve their lives. Do you think the Government will make you successful? Ask all those the Government has embedded in Government entittlements for decades how successful the Government has made them.

That is how liberals believe. Many of the rest of us think that people make their own accomplishments and help many others less fortunate, without their skills, on their way. Without the owner, no one inside or outside of the company would be able to do anything pertaining to the company.

They can't process the information themselves so they rely on Fox News to interpret it for them and of course they are then misinformed. Too bad because I thought the President made a very good point. When we succeed, we succeed together. That's not saying that a person hasn't worked his/her backside off. It saying that we are all in this together. We rise and fall together. And that's the way it should be.

He's saying that no person can plan & create a business 100% on their own, no help, no suggestions, no inspiration from someone or something else, none of that. ALL on your own. Oh and where did that money you used to start the business come from? Did you just wave a magic wand and poof, there's a sh*tload of cash? Or did you get the money by working at a job (which you never would've gotten if the boss hadn't hired you)? Or maybe you got the money from a trust fund, or maybe it was a loan. And did you have any teachers, idols, or anybody else inspire you & motivate you to build your business? With all of these factors & more included, I doubt that any business were started by just one person, all on their own. Oh- and didn't the state have to give you permission to even build the place on public property? Unless it's a home business

Oh, and the photo you used is hilarious, because it further proves his point. The girl didn't build the tower on her own; someone had to provide the Legos for her, right? xD

Someone must have encouraged her to do it. Someone must have helped her grow up. Someone must have provided the building she is doing it in. Someone must have fed her that day. Someone must have built the roads she took to school. Someone created the science to make plastic. Someone protected her country from being invaded. Someone made sure her drinking water has been safe. The list is endless.

Yes - If one listens to the entire speech, they know that Obama sneered at the business people for their hard work; sneered at their idea for the business; and said that if they had a business, they did not build that. He is under the impression that roads and bridges create business and has no understanding of what a business is, how it is started, what it takes to make it successful - he is incompetent and now has proved it unequivocally

That's not the message I got. I got the message that without a functioning country all these businesses wouldn't exist. Without people helping each other none of this great nation would be possible. We didn't do anything completely on our own. We all did it together.

No we did not. Unless you stood shoulder to shoulder in a hot kitchen frying foods, or drilled the oil or made the clothes - you had no part of it. This is a chicken/egg argument - without businesses there would be no jobs. Hate Oil industry - 9.2 million jobs - hate Chick-Fil-A (since they were in the news last week) 50,000 jobs - The lists go on and on - did the roads and bridges build them? Or did their taxes pay for them - how about the people who pay no income taxes; should they drive on the same roads?? Silly, of course, but do you see the point.

It is true that we all have some mentors of some type along the way but that is not what Obama said - not at all. Sorry, he slimed all of business and especially small business - the most back breaking thankless job is starting a business and the government does not have a hand in the work but does get paid via taxes - they do not get the credit now or ever. Far too many are ready and willing to want a share of a successful business but where the hell are they when a business fails, where is their share then and how about the credit they crave?? As I said, Obama is incompetent and has absolutely no clue how a business starts, works or succeeds and we can no long afford this poor poor leadership. Leadership so egotistical and with so little knowledge

With your logic any country in the world would be a perfect place to start a business. If we need no help from anyone then starting and succeeding in a business would be as easy in Russia or Colombia or Kenya. Since the government has no influence on the success of a company, a communist or fascist government shouldn't matter. And since no one helps a business succeed we could even start a hamburger join on the moon.

You probably have no interest in learning the truth, but in case you are a fair person, here is parts of his speech. The first sentence in the second paragraph is important. At least read that.

"If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business. you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen. The Internet didn’t get invented on its own. Government research created the Internet so that all the companies could make money off the Internet.

The point is, is that when we succeed, we succeed because of our individual initiative, but also because we do things together. There are some things, just like fighting fires, we don’t do on our own. I mean, imagine if everybody had their own fire service. That would be a hard way to organize fighting fires."

WE ALL (not somebody -- We the taxpayers and only the taxpayers), including the evil businesses people (who pay more taxes), pay for police and fire and teachers and roads and bridges and the early internet and everything else. But when starting a business; WE do not risk all our assests, WE do not work long grueling hours, WE do not hire the people or WE do not take all the risks -- the lone business person does -- not SOMEBODY ELSE and NO, SOMEBODY ELSE DID NOT MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

You can make all the excuses you wish, you can pretend that someone's 2nd grade teacher did it BUT THEY DID NOT - the person who did the work, took the risk, and hired the people did it. There is no excuse for what this incompetent president said, none.

I heard the speech, I reviewed it and I read it - it all comes to the same place - this president has no respect for business or the people who create the jobs. He did speak the truth, he hates independent work and thought, he sneers at those who work so hard to create jobs and wealth, he despises those who succeed and that is clear.

You can wrap yourself in cotton candy and pretend that our Constitution does not exist and never existed - that the freedoms we have fought to maintain are nothing. You can support a man who would sweep it ...

WE ALL (not somebody -- We the taxpayers and only the taxpayers), including the evil businesses people (who pay more taxes), pay for police and fire and teachers and roads and bridges and the early internet and everything else. But when starting a business; WE do not risk all our assests, WE do not work long grueling hours, WE do not hire the people or WE do not take all the risks -- the lone business person does -- not SOMEBODY ELSE and NO, SOMEBODY ELSE DID NOT MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

You can make all the excuses you wish, you can pretend that someone's 2nd grade teacher did it BUT THEY DID NOT - the person who did the work, took the risk, and hired the people did it. There is no excuse for what this incompetent president said, none.

I heard the speech, I reviewed it and I read it - it all comes to the same place - this president has no respect for business or the people who create the jobs. He did speak the truth, he hates independent work and thought, he sneers at those who work so hard to create jobs and wealth, he despises those who succeed and that is clear.

You can wrap yourself in cotton candy and pretend that our Constitution does not exist and never existed - that the freedoms we have fought to maintain are nothing. You can support a man who would sweep it all away so only government has the control of all business and all life as we know it - because government 'has allowed you to thrive." HAS ALLOWED??? Obviously he slept through every history class and his constitutional classes. He is telling you that government and government alone has, can and should dictate. My answer is NO, I will not be dictated to by government and our founders must be spinning in their graves.

Take the whole comment in context and he is saying that business owners think they are so smart, but there are a lot of smart people out there. They think they work so hard, but there are a lot of hard working people out there.

I think this was above many peoples understanding of what made America what it is today and the words taken out of context are unfortunately being twisted into a wedge issue by special interests ironically, that benefited. I think because many people don’t realize the role government played in building the telephone/power/communication lines, rails airports and organizing strategic development, educating people creating laws and regulation protecting consumers and the food they eat/safe working conditions not to mention defending our borders and threat of attack from abroad particularly early on when they used the power to tariff to assure our independent growth. Laws to protect and remedy wrongs and a place to do it and house the violators. Once was the time when Made in USA or an American firm was a brand all were proud of but now that greed and profit rules screw America and this wedge is how u divide. At one time tax breaks and incentives were designed to create prosperity for all but somewhere along the way the wealthy/special interests think its exclusive to them probably as they discovered they could exploit other nations and people for profit without passing on any savings in the form of wages. How about flying somewhere and knowing the jet can fly or crossing a bridge won't result in a collapse the list is endless.

yes we do, no it is not sad, he is telling people that their hard work is not why their business is a success. He is telling us that we are a success because government let us be- which is 180 from what our founding father envisioned